Plan Some Winter Cost Savings

Older homes have their charms and a few challenges. One of the challenges is conserving heat in the colder months. With a little planning you can cut down on heating costs without wearing your long johns to cook breakfast.

You can of course insulate, caulk, and install double pane windows, but there are a few things that folks without handyman skills and with limited budgets can do short of major renovations.

The first consideration is the placement of furniture. Keep furniture from blocking heating ducts, radiators and baseboards as much as possible. When it is just not feasible to leave these heating elements unobstructed there is a product that fits over the heating register and redirects air into the open space. It is made of clear PVC and at one and a half inches tall fist under most furniture and is almost invisible.

There are also products that boost the airflow of exposed registers. The Airflow Breeze replaces the register cover and the Equalizer Register Booster pulls air into the room. Both products use electricity and claim to be energy-efficient. The equalizer costs less than a 40-watt bulb to operate. Another adaptation for registers is Cover Up Magnetic Sheets which allows you to cover up registers without dampers in unoccupied rooms.

Another important consideration is to stop drafts. The Twin Draft Guard fits on both sides of the door and moves with the door when it is opened and closed so it does not need to be repositioned every time. Window Stoppers lay on along the windowsill and come in two lengths. You can also opt for a Plastic Window Insulation Kit that comes with channels and vinyl sheeting that is almost invisible. Insulated curtains also help retain heat and can be custom-made or purchased in ready-made sizes.

Check out these websites for these and similar products:
www.solutions.com
www.improvements.com
www.harrietcarter.com

With a little planning and a few products, you can stay cozy in your charming older home.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

GET ORGANIZED; SAVE MONEY

Did you know that getting organized could put more money in your pocket? Our clients are always surprised when we find ways to generate cash, prevent waste and gain better value for the dollars they spend. Here are just a few ways that getting organized can help your wallet stay fatter.

Generate Cash
There are a few amazing stories about finding antique treasures and stored cash, but the most common circumstance is selling things you no longer need. Unused exercise equipment, no-longer-cherished collections and clothing that hasn’t fit in a while can find a new home through yard sales, on-line, auctions and consignment shops. The important thing in recycling these items for cash is to set a time limit to get rid of them and then donate or give away anything that has not sold.

Prevent Waste
One of the saddest things about purging clutter is finding spoiled or expired products that could have been put to good use. They just got lost and most often the client has bought new products to replace them. We have found hundreds of light bulbs, dozens of unopened shampoo bottles and many expired food products that had to be tossed in the trash. Having an organized space allows the client to assess what is on hand and what needs to be replaced. Living an organized lifestyle establishes systems that support orderly review of household needs and methods of restocking.

The other pitfall for disorganized individuals is misplacing bills and incurring late charges. An organized method of dealing with incoming mail and paying bills puts that money in the consumer’s pocket rather than in the credit card company’s account.

Gain Better Value
Better utilization of space allows room for buying in quantity when you can achieve cost savings. It also allows you to stock up on non-perishables when there are price breaks. Having a meal-planning program allows the purchase of produce in season and the use of that produce without waste.

More Savings Than Clipping Coupons
Getting organized and putting systems in place to stay organized is an effective cost saving measure in troubling times. Rising gasoline prices and higher food costs are making all of us take a closer look at the way we spend the money we have. AARP Bulletin reports that consumers above age forty-five have increased behaviors like clipping coupons, eating out less and buying less expensive generic products. While these are good choices, getting organized can stretch you dollar even more.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Resolutions Are About Change

You resolved to get organized in 2008. It was New Year’s Eve and everything seemed possible. You have looked at every program on organizing that cable television offers. You have surfed the Internet for expert advice and you have bought books on organizing. Now it is weeks later and you haven’t gotten started. What’s the problem? You have the knowledge, so it is money, time, motivation or vision.

Money is really no excuse, so let’s just get that out of the way. There are creative, inexpensive ways to get organized that cost little or nothing. Some of our favorite organizing tools cost a dollar. There are also many items that already sit in closets and drawers that can be used to create an organized system. Boxes, baskets, crates, paper and plastic bags can be used to compartmentalize items for better access. Just organize within your financial means. Fancy can come later.

The problem of not enough time is a little harder to overcome. Time is limited so you have to eliminate some activity to make time to organize, or you have to become more efficient in using the time you have. Eureka! Isn’t that why you resolved to get organized? So you could be more productive and have more time? No more searching for hours for that important paper that you need. No more missing deadlines for project submissions or paying bills. No more desperate mornings trying to find something to wear and settling for whatever doesn’t need ironing. So setting aside time to organize is an investment that collects dividends of more time. You just have to get motivated to do it.

Lack of motivation is one of the hardest problems to overcome. You may be comfortable with your mess. If you are successful and happy, you may be wary of a change. You may not look forward to having to deal with family members and housemates to maintain a new system. You may suspect that you will fail. There are many theories of change and how to overcome resistance to it. There are too many to go into here, but you may enjoy looking at writings by Kurt Lewin, Tannenbaum and Hanna. or Beckhard and Gleicher

One of our favorite models for personal change is the ADKAR model by Prosci, which outlines the building blocks that individuals must have to be motivated to change
1. Awareness – of why the change is needed
2. Desire – to support and participate in the change
3. Knowledge – of how to change
4. Ability – to implement new skills and behaviors
5. Reinforcement – to sustain the change

You are aware you need to get organized and you want to do it; you made a resolution. You have obtained knowledge about how to change. So the question is do you have the ability to make the change.

We find that many of our clients do not have the ability to envision a system that will work for them and will fit within the time and financial resources that they can devote to getting organized. This is what most frequently keeps them from getting started. If this is the problem, try thinking small. Instead of asking “How do I organize may closet?” ask “How can I get my belts off the closet floor and make them easily accessible?” Small steps that result is small successes are powerful reinforcers for continued movement toward the larger goal.

Sometimes you just have to ask for help. Talk it over with a friend who is successful at organizing or call a professional who will work with you to develop a vision and a plan for achieving it

You may also have physical limitations that interfere with getting the job done, or time commitments that cannot be altered. These are other circumstances in which help from friends or a professional organizer is a good way to achieve your goal.

Resolutions are good things. They help us target personal goals to improve our lives. Keeping the resolution is a matter of finding ways that work for us to implement the change and make it part of our daily lives. Good luck!

As the Cableguy says “get’er done”

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organizing Within Limits

If we all agree that being organized is a desirable thing, why are we all not organized?
All it takes is some time, some skills, some creativity, some energy, a little motivation and a little money. Aha! The answer might be that at some times in our lives we lack one or more of those elements.

We believe, of all those requirements, the most important one is motivation. Getting organized has to rise to the top of the priority list because the in-laws are coming, or you are ready to claim your time and space, or the clutter has taken over your life and you have to do something to survive. Once you are motivated to accomplish the task you can access the other resources.

Before you acquire the needed resources, take a look at the limits you have, not only financially, but in regards to ability and skills.

There really are skills involved in creating an organized environment. Some folks are fortunate to have had a parent, teacher or mentor who taught them to prioritize sequence and design usable systems. For the rest of us who have not been so fortunate, there are resources on bookshelves and on the internet that provide information and guidance in these areas. A professional organizer can also provide a supportive and instructive combination of hands-on experience and coaching that will help you get the job done.

Whatever method you chose to acquire the skills, an important consideration is your limitations.

Consider budget: What can I spend on this project? Should I contract outside help? What kind of organizing tools and systems can I create or purchase?

Consider physical ability: Do I have the physical ability to accomplish the manual labor and the construction require? What system fits my energy level? As I design systems, what personal limitations do I need to accommodate?

Consider creative ability: Can I create a plan and/or systems from scratch or do I need to seek professional guidance? Can I invent systems from what I currently have or do I need to purchase ready-made tools?

Recognizing the limits and planning within their boundaries will help you establish systems you can work with and maintain.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net